One in six people in Bradley County face food insecurity

From our partners at Local 3 News: One in six people are food insecure in Bradley County. That's an increase of almost 3% compared to the previous year.
 
“Food insecurity is a critical need right now,” said Corrine Freeman, Executive Director of the Caring Place. “With the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, their support as our primary source and our primary supplier of food product that makes that possible for us to do.”

The Caring Place, St. Therese Catholic Church and Cleveland State are just three of the 30 hunger relief partners the food bank has in the area.

Local 3's Share Your Christmas (SYC) 2023: 39th annual Share Your Christmas™ exceeds financial goal

More than $163,000 was donated, beating out the $150,000 goal.  

Last year groceries were provided for more than 1.1 million meals in Bradley County.
“I think everyone understands the need with the cause of inflation right now. And what it does to your buying power when you go to the store,” Leonard J. Peterson, a Co-Director at the St. Therese Food Bank said.

An increase in need that agencies across Bradley County say they are seeing.

“Before you know we just set some items out and it last all day long,” Carolina Roman, student engagement coordinator at Cleveland State said. “Now we have to do it like three times during the day and sometimes that is not even enough because the number of students coming and using the food pantry is like has increased.”

“The partnership is wonderful, because we make sure it is our own responsibility to make sure our students do not go hungry whether they are on or off-campus,” Natalia Williams, director of the office of Student Engagement and Support at Cleveland State, said.

The goal -- helping people during a time in need and helping them build stability.

“We want families to not have to worry ever about hunger within their house hold. We want them to be able to go to their cabinets and see that they have food to feed their families,” Freeman said.

Food donations and funds raised in Bradley County during the 40th Annual Share Your Christmas will stay in the community, making sure no families go hungry.
 
“So, you know bring it on! Let's do 6,000 pounds of food, I mean, throw down the gauntlet let's raise $10,000,” Peterson said.